The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1887-12-21
ONE CHRISTMAS.
by OLIVE HARPER.

"That there Marthy Avery is the foolish
est critter that ever lived, | swan to man
Here's her father dead. and she left will
all that brood Of her stepmother's young
ones: and instead Of sendin' 'em TO theil
grandfather she ups and says she is goin
To- support 'em herself. She won't get my
.Iabcz II thnt's her idee, for III Just put
my foot down"
Martha is n likely girl"
"Thcrc's three gals and boy baby, and
they han't no call nor claim on her
There's them as would make her a good
forchanded providcr, but no man wont
take hull family ON his hands TO onct
Its bad enough marrying widders, hut
nobody wants lot OF sick'y young ones
a-cating mp all the substW zee of farm
No. iudeedr'
wall, you know, Mrs. Hemphill, Mar,
thy feels as il the children hes rs good a
right rs herself 10 the farm; they was her
fathers"
yes; bu, he didn't make no will, and
the farm and the settin' ont was all Mar
thy's own mothers, so nobody can't dis
pute her claim. Besides, what does slip
Of girl like that know bout carryin' on
n farm, I'd like TO know"
ITS too bad; but, "a you say, she'll
flnl how hard it is 20 manage n farm.
am greatly exercised for her, and I'll ask
the sisterhood To make her subject OF an
address TO the throne of grace sand Mrs.
pringle as she gave little sigh, and
folded up her Hitting 10 take her seat at
Mrs Hemphill's well filled tea table, for
s,ir had ridden over to spend the after
noon and have good visit.
Jabez, Mrs. Hcmphill's only son, and
his father came in and took their accus-
toned places, and the father asked very
long blessing, and reached his hand out
and captured biscuit at the same mo-
ment that he delivered his ''amen."
JaleZ was handsome, frank young
fellow, who worked very hard and had no
vices, but who possessed II fair share of
manly virtues.
He found time. somehow, after the null
tifarious duties on u farm We're done, 10
study, and 10 slip over 10 the Avery farm
very often.
Being steady and handsome young
fellow, his mother naturally looked on
linn with pride, and now she felt that she
was doing her duty as "A wise mother in
misunderstanding such a foolish action on
Martha's part ms adopting her three little
half sisters and baby brother.
Meanwhile, Martha was working, as 1,
her life depended upon il, over "a rcfrac-
tory churning, and her pretty face was
wrinkled into frown and her cheeks
famed crimson, and little sparks Of anger
seemed to shoot from her eyes that had
yet suspicion of tears not far Off.
She jerked the dasher with vindictive
little movements, as II she wished she had
some particular person under the dasher,
and wxhal il did seem as If that butter
was bewitched.
IL don't wonder il won't Gomez said
Martha, mt last. ''llateful old thingl As
II depended upon her, or as il | wanted
her 'Jabez.' ! guess ! can manage a
farm; at any rate, ! must try, for with
Gods help will take care of these poor
little children. Addie can help take care
of the others-and think she is cruel
Ohr'
This exclamation was brought forth by
the sudden sight Of Jabez, us he sprung
over the fence and walked into the well
kept kitchen without IA word Of warning
or invitation.
He walked directly up to Martha and
clasped both of his hands around hers as
she held the "dasher," and said chcerily;
"Well, Martie, how are you? Here, you
sit down and let me do this, and can
look Mt you all the while, and that will
pay me for my work."